Field Technician – True Potato Seed Production

<p><strong>Location:</strong> Watsonville, CA<br><strong>Department:</strong> Seed Production / R&amp;D<br><strong>Employment Type:</strong> Full-Time&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>About the Role</strong></h3> <p>We are seeking a detail-oriented <strong>Field Technician</strong> to support <strong>True Potato Seed (TPS) production</strong>, with a strong focus on <strong>hand-pollination, emasculation, berry development, and seed extraction</strong>. Unlike vegetative (tuber) seed potato systems, TPS production relies on controlled sexual crosses between parent clones to produce botanical seed from berries. This role requires precision, patience, and comfort with delicate flower-level work in both field and greenhouse/screenhouse settings.</p> <h3><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></h3> <p><strong>Pollination &amp; Crossing (Primary Focus)</strong></p> <ul> <li>Execute seed production planting in appropriate TPS production location across the US planting sites</li> <li>Collect detailed data and maintain production records fully updated and report information as it happens.&nbsp;</li> <li>Follow the pollen collection and seed production SOPs to ensure high quality outcomes.</li> <li>Collect pollen from designated male parent plants at the correct flowering stage, ensuring viability (fresh collection, proper storage/temperature control)</li> <li>Perform hand-pollination by applying pollen to female flowers according to prescribed crossing designs&nbsp;</li> <li>Tag and label each pollinated flower/truss immediately with cross ID, parent line, and date to maintain traceability through berry set and harvest</li> <li>Monitor flowering synchrony between male and female parent plants and flag timing mismatches to breeders/supervisors</li> <li>Track pollination success rates, fruit (berry) set, and flower drop, recording data in field books or digital data collection tools</li> <li>Monitor berry development and maturity (color change, softening) to determine correct harvest timing</li> <li>Hand-harvest mature berries by cross/truss, keeping strict identity preservation and avoiding cross-contamination between crosses</li> <li>Assist with berry processing: crushing/macerating berries, fermenting pulp, and washing to extract true seed</li> <li>Dry, clean, and package extracted TPS seed lots according to protocol, ensuring accurate labeling for storage and germination testing</li> <li>Support seed viability and germination testing procedures as needed</li> </ul> <p><strong>General Field &amp; Greenhouse Support</strong></p> <ul> <li>Assist with planting, transpl